Terrell Owens issued the apology Tuesday that the Philadelphia Eagles needed to hear last week. He apologized to coach Andy Reid, team President Joe Banner, owner Jeff Lurie and quarterback Donovan McNabb. He apologized to his teammates and to fans. (Related item: Owens' statement)

Unfortunately for Owens, this is what the Eagles hoped to hear him say Saturday, before they decided to finally cut ties with the controversial receiver. They said Tuesday that they had no further comment regarding Owens' status.

The Eagles suspended Owens for four games Monday and said he'd be listed as inactive for the final five games of the season after comments he made last week that were critical of the organization and of McNabb. The suspension, which began with Sunday night's 17-10 loss to the Washington Redskins, would cost him roughly $800,000 of his $3.25 million salary, though he would be paid for games in which he is inactive. On Wednesday, the team placed Owens on the reserve/suspended list, meaning he cannot practice or play with the Eagles.

The suspension and Owens' subsequent game-day status are the subjects of a grievance filed by the NFL Players Association. The hearing is Nov. 18 before arbitrator Richard Bloch.

The union will contend Owens' punishment is excessive, even though the labor agreement permits a four-game suspension on the basis of conduct. The threat of further inactive status, NFLPA lawyer Richard Berthelsen said, constitutes "additional discipline for the same offense." NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw said it was "piling on."

Speaking from his home in Moorestown, N.J., Owens, a 10-year veteran in his second season with the Eagles, made an appeal for reinstatement.

"This is very painful for me, to be in this position," he said. "I know in my heart I can help this team win a Super Bowl, not only being a dominant player but being a team player."

His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Owens "needs to be playing. We hope he plays again for the Philadelphia Eagles. We hope he plays right away."

Owens' relationship with management soured when he began demanding to renegotiate the $49 million contract he signed in March 2004.

Owens showed a contrite, sincere side Tuesday that's usually overshadowed by his brash talking and selfish behavior.

"The mentality that I have, my greatest strength can also be my greatest weakness," Owens said, reading a statement outside his house. "I'm a fighter. I've always been and I'll always be. I fight for what I think is right. In doing so, I alienated a lot of my fans and my teammates."

A day earlier, Owens was told by the team not to return this season because of "a large number of situations that accumulated over a long period of time," Reid said.

He said Owens had been "warned repeatedly about the consequences of his actions."

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a similar move with Keyshawn Johnson two years ago, sending him home for the final six games with pay after he criticized coach Jon Gruden.

Owens was suspended Saturday, two days after he said the Eagles showed "a lack of class" for not publicly recognizing his 100th career touchdown catch in a game on Oct. 23. In the same interview with ESPN.com, Owens said the Eagles would be better off with Green Bay's Brett Favre at quarterback instead of McNabb.

Owens apologized to the organization for making those comments, but didn't address McNabb, even though the statement he read from included a direct apology to the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

This time, Owens said he was sorry not only to Reid and McNabb, but also to Banner and Lurie.

"I would like to reiterate my respect for Donovan McNabb as a quarterback and as a teammate," Owens said. "I apologize to him for any comments that may have been negative."

The Eagles are 4-4 this season and last in the NFC East. Last year, they were the top team in the conference, going 13-3 on the way to the Super Bowl.

Owens' relationship with the Eagles took a drastic turn after he fired longtime agent David Joseph, hired Rosenhaus and demanded a new contract just one season into the seven-year, $48.97 million deal he signed when he came to Philadelphia in March 2004.

While Rosenhaus spoke to reporters and refused to answer several questions, Owens stood stoically alongside a burly bodyguard.

He flashed his trademark smile and winked at a reporter who asked Rosenhaus what he's done for his client other than have him kicked off the team.

Rosenhaus skipped over that question and criticized the media for being "unfair" to Owens.

"There are players in the NFL that are arrested who violate the program when it comes to drugs and substance abuse and they are not punished as severely as him," Rosenhaus said.

Owens clashed with management this summer and earned a one-week exile from training camp after a heated dispute with Reid that followed a shouting match with offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

Owens forced a trade to the Eagles last year after eight seasons with the 49ers and invigorated the offense with his superior skills. He had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 TDs in 14 games.

Soon after Philadelphia lost to New England in the Super Bowl, Owens took his first shot at McNabb, suggesting he was tired in the fourth quarter of the loss.

McNabb responded harshly and the two didn't speak for a prolonged period in training camp. They eventually reconciled their relationship and performed well together on the field — Owens has 47 catches for 763 yards and six TDs this season.

Contributing: USA TODAY's Larry Weisman and The Associated Press

Terrell Owens' statement Tuesday

''As you know, I have been suspended and told that I cannot play football for the rest of the season. I am a football player and this is what I do. It really hurts me not to be part of the team anymore. I came here to help the Eagles get to the Super Bowl and win the big game.

''When I got hurt last year, and everyone said my season was over, I fought hard to prove the world was wrong and do everything possible, including risk my career, to help the Eagles win the Super Bowl.

''And I think the mentality that I have, my greatest strength can also be my greatest weakness. I'm a fighter - I've always been and I'll always be. I fight for what I think is right. In doing so, I alienated a lot of my fans and my teammates.

''To those fans who supported me through these tough times, I thank you for your support. To every single Philadelphia Eagles fan out there that cheered for me, I want you to know that I am sorry this has happened. To you, I apologize.

''To my teammates, a lot of you have been a friend to me and I appreciate that. I can't tell you how much I wanted to fight along your side to take this team to victory. It was very painful for me not to be there with you against the Redskins last weekend, and it was more painful for me now that I won't be there with you Monday night.

''Also, I would like to reiterate my respect for Donovan McNabb as a quarterback and as a teammate. I apologize to him for any comments that may have been negative.

''To my head coach, Andy Reid, I owe you an apology. You and I were in a tough spot this year. I know you were just trying to coach this team and we did not see eye to eye sometimes. On the practice field and on game day, you knew you could count on me to give my very best. We had a lot of wins together, and I thank you for that. I respect you as a coach and as a person.

''To Joe Banner (team president) and Mr. (Jeffrey) Lurie (chairman/CEO), I understand that all along you were trying to do what you believed was in the best interest of the team, the Philadelphia Eagles. I apologize to the both of you.

''As I said before, this is very painful for me to be in this position. I know in my heart that I can help the team win the Super Bowl and not only be a dominant player, but also be a team player. I can bring that.

''In closing, I want everybody to know that football is my passion. I've always given it my all and I will continue to do so.''